On 23 Aug 2000 05:24:00 GMT, frantzunlimited@aol.com (FrantzUnlimited) wrote:

>>Buy the NEW Sony PD-150. It's the VX-1000 on steroids. I have been
>>shooting a documentary for the last 10 weeks with one and it is
>>fantastic. It has everything the VX2000 has, plus a flip-out LCD and
>>BALANCED AUDIO INPUTS. These are crucial to professional production.
>>Yes, I know, I've tried the mighty wondercam (add-on to the VX-1000 for
>>balanced audio) but having all as one package is awesome. My only
>>complaint is that the Century Optics Dual wide angle conversion lens I
>>used to use on my VX-1000 does not fit the PD-150. A minor setback as
>>I'm keeping the VX1000 anyway and will need another lens for the new
>>camera.

>Does it take the same battery as the VX 1000 or does it take the newer ones
>like ones used on my TRV-900 and TRV-9?

The latter - only "Infolithium", alas...
But the big 950/960 batteries last f o r e v e r !!!
It is nice to be free of AC supplies, bulky/heavy
lead-acid batteries, pockets full of "small"
batteries, etc. on location...!

>Is it any easier to focus than a TRV-900?

Yes - the 900 is one of the hardest of the best
small 3-chippers to focus/view with; the 150
has a B&W finder, which is slightly easier to
focus with 2000 color finder. The VX-1000
with the color dialed out is also very easy to
focus/view with, and I don't know why Sony didn't
use that finder on the new cameras - it is
slightly better than the finder on the 2000...

>Is there any audio buzz problem?

Unlikely...

>Is $3450 a fair price for me to buy new?

For the 150, yes - but the 2000 is identical
but for having a color finder (and also the
fold-out screen...), having a stereo built-in
mic instead of a mono accessory shotgun,
mini-plug audio connections instead of XLRs,
and a brighter silver color - and the price
is much lower.

>Thanks.
>David Frantz